All Eyes on the CHL Top Prospects Game

Thanks to the lack of high end technology (No PVR damnit!) at home, I was faced with a tough decision tonight: CHL Top Prospects Skills Competition or Leafs vs. Preds. Sadly, I chose the Leaf game. Pretty much a low chance, slow pace snoozer from the get-go so I eventually started flipping back and forth to catch glimpses of the NHL’s next crop of exciting young stars showing off their various talents. Little metaphor there I suppose? Anyways, Iaught bits of the 3 on 3 game which I felt was quite entertaining as it reminded me a lot of your local pickup game filled with breakaways and attempts at fancy moves. It was a relaxed, enjoyable atmosphere mostly targetted towards some of the younger audience members in attendance. Goaltender Nathan Lieuwen, a virtual unknown on NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings, was fantastic tonight making a number of highlight reel saves.

But that’s enough of that. Tomorrow, it’s all business for these youngsters as they get ready to suit up for tomorrow night’s CHL Top Prospects game on Sportsnet at 7pm ET. If you’re not particularly busy and want to get a preview of some of the guys who may be donning Leaf jerseys at this year’s entry draft in Montreal, you might wanna tune in. Unlike the NHL All-star game which has predominantly become a joke, a mere political affair if anything, the CHL Top Prospects game is a rather intense and competitive event. With over 100 scouts expected from all 30 NHL clubs, this is the chance for elite prospects to solidy their draft standings, sleeper prospects to rise up the rankings, and for non-prospects to get on the radar.

The big Canadian names such as Duchene, Tavares, Kane, Schenn, Ellis, Cowen, Kulikov, Roy, Kassian and Kivisto will all be there.

Team Orr will feature Tavares, Schenn and Glennie up front. Cowen and Ellis will make a formidable two-way duo as the top defensive pairing, and the much hyped Olivier Roy will get the start. Kivisto is another interesting name to look out for as one of the most polished two-way defenders in the draft.

Team Cherry will rely on Duchene, Kane and Kadri to anchor the forwards. Kulikov and Depres will form another impressive two-way pairing on defense, with Nathan Lieuwen between the pipes. Power forward Zach Kassian is sure to draw plenty of intrigue from scouts as well.

Unlike last season where a disastrous season basically snuck up on all of us, Leafs Nation was forewarned by Wilson and Fletcher in the offseason that this season could potentially be a long and arduous one. Like the donkey with a carrot on a stick, we continue to stumble onwards hoping to eventually get rewarded with a young, franchise player at the end of the season. Well, tomorrow night’s the first chance to sneak in a taste.